The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-07-15
To THE PUBLIC.

Having identified myself with the Republican
party since 1851, having organized II In Hartford
county In 1853, and having recently announced
my purpose to act hereafter with the Democratic
party, as have held the highest office within the
gift of the people of Hartford as the nominee of
the Republicans, l think it proper that should
state in this public way the reasons that have in
huenced me TO make the change.
voted first for Presidential candidate in
1852, as Wing, having had Wing doctrines carly
inculcated, and that vote still approve, because
the Democratic party was then engaged in per-
tied territories, and have always believed that
the existence of slavery did not promote the pros
periy of any state or people.
The Wing party died with the campaign of 1852
and the Know Nothing party sprang into life.
That party had no proper place in land claiming
to be the asylum OF the oppressed of all lands
and amongst people whose liberties were achiev-
ed in large measure by the blood aud treasure of
natives OF other countries. Besides, my father
came from ireland, and could not join party
that prescribed Irishmen. Then. AZ did not
want slavery extended, because believed 1t to be
destructive to the best interests of the people
who had H. could not be Democrat.
could not be Know Nothing, because to be
one was TO aid in an endeayor to defeat the will
of God Almighty, by denying to the oppressed
the home that He had provided them. l therefore
drifted about, voting for nta of either party
whose purposes believed TO be pure, until 1861.
Then l saw that the Democratic leaders of the
South had made the whole party, as an orRaniZa-
ton, North and South, believe that the existence
aud porpotuatiou OF slavery was the paramount
interest Of the American people. | did not be-
lcve this but believed that the preservation of
the uni9n OF the states was essential not only to
the highest interests of the American people,
but to tae preservation of Democratic insitu-
lions on the earth. was willing, therefore, to
peril every other interest in order to preserve It,
and shall regret TO my life's end that the con-
dition OF my health at the time prevented me
from lighting 10 maintain it.
therefore Joined the Republican party, be-
causcits object was to maintain and perpetuate
that Union that considered so essential to the
welLbeing of thousands Of millions of men who are
TO conc upon the earth after we are gone. That
p0rty did much that was highly distasteful to me,
bit the preservation of the Union was the sugar
mat took the bitterness from the dose, and while
there was much to censure, the Republican party
will go down TO posterlty covered with the benc-
dlctions of mankind for saving the Union. But
It's mission is ended, its purpose is accomplished,
and its organization R0sC is, in its ultimate results
antagonistlc to Democratic institutions-that is,
antagonislc to the existence of a government of
The people, 6V the people, for the people.
The great capitalists of the land and the power
full corpora ions that suck the blood of labor,
have seized upon it, so that nor, the man who
wants liberty preserved, who wants the poor man
to have his rights, who wants his children to in-
herit untTdDDleLted the splendid opportunities of
American citizenship. must act 3CiM The Democratic
party. and with 1t cast my lot
July 18th, 1887. l.. NJ. ALLEN.